Rob Landel, PT, DPT, FAPTA

Rob Landel is professor of clinical physical therapy in the Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He is the Director of Residency and Fellowship Programs at USC.

A graduate of USC in 1984 with a MS degree in physical therapy, Dr. Landel earned his post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree in 1996. He earned his Certificate in Manual Therapy (MTC) from the Institute of Graduate Health Sciences (now the University of St. Augustine) in 1989, became a Board Certified Specialist in Orthopedic Physical Therapy (OCS) in 1992, and became a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) in 2004. In 2012 he was honored as a Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the APTA, the highest honor bestowed on a member of the APTA, and with the Royce P. Noland Award of Merit from the California Chapter of the APTA, its highest honor. He received the Lucy Blair Service Award from the APTA in 2018.

An accomplished teacher, Dr. Landel has taught orthopedic physical therapy, vestibular rehabilitation, balance retraining and fall prevention to physicians, audiologists, and physical and occupational therapists across the US, Africa, Asia, Europe and Australia. He received the Division of Biokinesiology’s Outstanding Teacher Award at USC twice (2005, 2009), the James Gould Excellence in Teaching Orthopedic Physical Therapy Award in 2009 from the Orthopedic Section of the APTA, and the Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching from USC, the university’s highest faculty teaching award. He has presented at professional and scientific meetings locally, nationally and internationally. He was on the faculty of the Vestibular Rehabilitation Competency Course series sponsored by Emory University and the APTA, directed by Susan Herdman, PT, PhD. The Cervicogenic Dizziness Competency Course offered by Skill Works is one of the five courses in that series.

Dr. Landel has published 19 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and written 6 book chapters.

Dr. Landel began his clinical work at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, where besides time in the burn, arthritis and outpatient neurology units he worked with Dr. Jacquelin Perry on the Polio Service. He then worked in outpatient orthopedics until he began teaching part time at USC in 1988. He came to USC on a full time basis in 1989 to continue teaching and to start and direct the faculty practice, USC Physical Therapy Associates, whee he managed patients with orthopedic and vestibular disorders. In 1998 he co-founded and was the first Director of the USC Orthopedic PT Residency Program.

Active in the APTA at the national level, Dr. Landel is a past chair of the Orthopedic Specialty Council, charged with writing, updating and maintaining the Board Certification Examination and the re-certification process in Orthopedic Physical Therapy (OCS). Dr. Landel wrote questions for the OCS exam for 5 years prior to joining the Specialty Council, and was a member of the task force that wrote the 2002 Description of Specialty Practice for Orthopedic Physical Therapy. In addition, he served for four years (two as chair) on what is now the American Board of Residency and Fellowship Education (ABPTRFE). During his tenure the number of credentialed programs nearly doubled, including the first residency programs in Neurology and Gerontology and the first Sports Fellowship. He continues his advocacy of long term continuing education and the development of residency programs through Skill Works by providing consultation services to new programs. Besides getting the USC Orthopedic Residency program credentialed he assisted in getting the USC Neurologic Residency program credentialed, and has consulted with several other successfully credentialed programs including the first program in Pediatric Physical Therapy.

Dr. Landel co-authored the chapter on cervicogenic dizziness in the fourth edition of Vestibular Rehabilitation by Susan Herdman. He has also co-authored book chapters in therapeutic exercise for the thoracic spine and knee, published 16 peer reviewed articles on various topics in physical therapy, and authored four invited articles. He is most proud, however, of his three children and their accomplishments.

EDUCATION

• Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, 1996
• Master of Science, Physical Therapy, University of Southern California, 1984
• Bachelor of Science, Health Science with Community Health Education, California State University, Long Beach, 1981
• Associates Degree, Pasadena City College, 1978

HONORS AND AWARDS

• President’s Award, Oncology Section, APTA, 2018
• Lucy Blair Service Award, APTA, 2018
• Associates Award for Excellence in Teaching, University of Southern California, 2014
• Royce P. Noland Award of Merit, California Chapter American Physical Therapy Association, 2012
• Catherine Worthingham Fellow, APTA, 2012
• James A. Gould Excellence in Teaching Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Award, Orthopedic Section of the APTA, 2009
• Teacher of the Year, Division of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, 2009
• Excellence in Research–Faculty; California Chapter APTA, 2008
• Teacher of the Year, Department of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, 2005
• Steven Rose Excellence in Research Award, Orthopedic Section, APTA, 1998